AUTHOR: The Maven TITLE: Goalie wrap-up DATE: 11/06/2006 05:37:00 PM ----- BODY:

THE WEEKES THAT WAS: You won’t get me dumping on Kevin Weekes after he lost in overtime to the sizzling Sabres on Sunday night at the Garden. Granted, the Rangers goalie did not produce a hermetically sealed game but he played well enough to get the Blueshirts a point against what is considered the NHL’s best club. What’s more, he helped produce five out of a possible six points; winning a pair in California and losing in OT on what was a screened shot. Okay, coach Tom Renney was disappointed. Who wouldn’t be considering that his club had a two goal lead at one point in the second period. And even though they allowed Buffalo to tie the count in the third, New York stormed goalie Martin Biron late in the third and came very, VERY close to getting the winner with six seconds to go and Matt Cullen just missing a deflection. All things considered, I look at the Rangers’ glass as three-quarters full. But for another opinion, I turn to my sidekick, P.J. Lally, who was standing next to me at the Zamboni door for most of the game eyeing the action: In what was the best 64 minutes of hockey I’ve seen all season, the Rangers lost on Sunday in an overtime heartbreaker to the number one team in the league. But as they say, a team is only as strong as its “Weekes-est” link. Pun intended. The Rangers played a gritty, physical style that was missing during their just-average 7-6 start. The problem is simple – defense. A Team near the top of the league in scoring figures to be near the top of the standings. But the Rangers are also tied for second-to-last in goals against. On the other hand, the Blueshirts were reinvigorated against Buffalo. They hustled, backchecked, killed four of five penalties, and played the physical style they so desperately needed to limit their opponents’ numerous scoring opportunities. But, alas, as Jaromir Jagr hung his head low and spoke to reporters after the overtime loss, the Captain summed it up perfectly, “We played good, but not good enough.” After coming off the bench to replace Henrik Lundqvist and after posting two straight wins on the road, Weekes got the go-ahead in net for his fourth game of the season and probably cost the Rangers the game. Despite flashes of brilliance, Weekes didn’t look confident and couldn’t corral many of the 29 shots he faced, creating rebounds galore for the Sabres – one of which resulted in Jason Pominville’s game-tying goal at 8:13 of the third period. And that wasn’t the only goal that could be blamed on Weekes. Just over three minutes into the game, he gave up a weak wrap-around goal to Thomas Vanek. Even Tom Renney commented during his post-game press conference that that shot probably could have been stopped. A week ago, I would have told you that goaltending was the least of the Rangers’ problems. After watching Sunday’s game, I’d say that goaltending may be one of the only weaknesses that must be addressed for this team to really hit its stride. OTHER POINTS OF NOTE

Petr Prucha played an outstanding game before taking a puck to the face. He hustled and scored a superb PP goal.
Jagr seems to have found his groove. The Martin Straka – Jagr combo is jelling. Straka is all over the place.
Ryan Hollweg saw a lot of time, especially important late third period time. He played well, setting the tone with big hits.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE GOMEZ: The bad news for the New Jersey Devils is that Scott Gomez re-injured his groin and is likely to miss Tuesday night’s home game against Carolina. The good news is that the Devs can win without their center. As a matter of fact, ever since Gomer went down, his club posted two straight shutouts. And when he returned on Thursday against the Islanders, they lost. Without their dipsy-doodling center, coach Claude Julien’s team invaded Montreal on Saturday night and managed to squeeze out a 2-1 win. Sergei Brylin pinch-hit for Gomez on the line with Brian Gionta and Patrik Elias. Although the trio did not figure in the scoring, Brylin did his usual workmanlike job while Jay Pandolfo and Brian Rafalski provided the necessary goals. Coming on the heels of a dreadful performance against the Isles, New Jersey’s win in Habtown proved once again that – in certain cases – Martin Brodeur still can bail out his scoring-deprived team. The goalie-turned-author was superb from start to finish and hardly could be faulted on Chris Higgins’ re-direction power play goal in the second period. Unfortunately, Marty simply cannot be counted on for endless games of salvation and the suddenly slumping Elias and Gionta had better find their games soon. Once again, the Devs won a low-scoring game despite the fact that inexperienced Johnny Oduya – getting better by the week – Jim Fahey and Alex Brooks manned the backline. Heavily-used Rafalski scored a neat backhand on a power play – yes, a POWER PLAY – while Paul Martin and Colin White enjoyed one of their better games. Ditto for rookie Travis Zajac, who continues to shine alongside Zach Parise and Jamie Langenbrunner. It was a meaningful, critical win but more will be needed with Gomez indefinitely sidelined. BOTTOM LINE: Gionta and Elias must get back on the scoring track.

INEXPLICABLE ISLES: How can a team that looked so perfectly in synch on Thursday night against the Devils suddenly disintegrate two nights later – at home, no less – at the hands of the Atlanta Thrashers. Nothing against Bob Hartley’s club, mind you, but in dismantling New Jersey at the Meadowlands with such consummate ease, the Isles suggested that they were at the start of something big. Certainly, Rick DiPietro has to take some blame for the 4-1 loss while the scorers inexplicably went into hibernation after flourishing across the Hudson. The fans are giving it to DiPietro big time because of his 15 year contract. Now Ricky is paying the price in negative public opinion. Do you, as a fan, buy his rationale? “I don’t know why they’re booing the contract. I don’t remember signing up for superpowers once I signed the contract. “I make mistakes all the time. It’s the nature of the sport. Everyone makes mistakes regardless of how much money they’re paid or how many years they sign for. If they’re expecting me to be perfect every night, they’re in for a long season because it’s not going to happen.” It proves that coach Ted Nolan still has much work in progress and anyone who has illusions of a first-place in Nassau – at least for the moment – is being delusional. I have only one bit of advice to Nolan: get Mike Dunham back between the pipes as soon as possible; which is to say your very next game today against Tampa Bay.

DIRTY DIRTY My choice for the new dirtiest player in the league is Montreal’s Guillaume Latendresse. On Saturday night, he kicked Marty Brodeur in the head with the back of his skate and high-sticked Travis Zajac, nearly taking the kid’s eye out. Both plays looked deliberate to me.

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